JRC Auction: A Little Trane, A Few Blue Notes

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It’s always interesting to watch the Jazz Record Center auctions on eBay and the latest is closing today. Here are a few of the items:

John Jenkins and Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price on this was $1,000 and there is a bid on it, so it will be sold and will enter the virtual $1,000 bin.

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. Here’s a more clear explanation of this than we’ve heard before. Jazz Record Center refers to this as the “pinwheels” label, although we’ve most often seen it described as “bulls-eye.” It is described as an “original deep-groove second press,” which kind of makes sense. It’s still valued among collectors, even though it is not a first press. This one looks to be in M- condition for the record and the cover and is already at more than $170. Speaking of original Coltranes on Atlantic: John Coltrane and Milt Jackson, Bags and Trane, Atlantic 1368. This is an original mono pressing with the red and purple labels, although I’m still not 100 percent sure how to distinguish it as a first pressing. This one is in M- condition and so far there are no takers at $50.

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A Jazz Vinyl Christmas?

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I did my usual eBay searches last night and there is a lot of really, really nice collectible jazz vinyl available now. These things tend to go in cycles. Perhaps the Christmas season brings out the inner retailer in some of us. Here is just a sampling of the jazz vinyl we’re watching now:

Walter Davis Jr., Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This looks to be an original pressing in not-too-great condition. Record looks to be VG or VG+ and the cover is rated as VG. The auction closes later today and the bidding is in the $150 range. I have a United Artists pressing of this record and would love an original, even one in VG condition. But this will probably sell for somewhere around $300, so I think I’ll wait.

I’m still surprised to see these Benny Golson LPs selling for such high prices, although I’ve always been a fan myself: Benny Golson, Gone With Golson, New Jazz 8235. This is an original purple label pressing and it is listed in M- condition for the record and Ex for the cover, which is probably VG++? There are more than two days left on this auction and the bidding is already nearing $400. Speaking of which, here is a copy of my favorite Benny Golson record: Benny Golson, The Modern Touch, Riverside 256. This is an original deep groove blue label pressing that is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price is well less than $100 at this point, with a few days to go. If you don’t know this record, it’s one to check out. Really nice arrangements, some great Kenny Dorham, and a fantastic rhythm section with Paul Chambers, Max Roach and Wynton Kelly. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Here’s another favorite, with a great cover:

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Jazz Vinyl Watch: Setting Some New Records

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Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:

Art Tatum/Ben Webster Quartet, Verve 8220. This is an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. There were four bidders, 15 bids and the ultimate price was $290. My sense is most of the readers here at Jazz Collector tend to prefer post-bop era jazz — I generally do as well — but this is one of those must-have records, in my opinion, that always sounds beautiful and fresh when you put it on the turntable.

Haven’t seen this one sell for such a high price before: Sheila Jordan, Portrait of Sheila, Blue Note 9002. This was described as an original U.S. pressing in “superb” condition. It sold for $405. Our previous high for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was just $123, so that’s quite a leap. Great record, though.

Here’s a perennial for the ever-more-crowded $1,000 bin:

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Rollins Receives Kennedy Center Honor

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The actual Kennedy Center Honors took place last night, the one in which Sonny Rollins received his long-overdue and much deserved recognition. In looking over various accounts of the festivities, it seems as if it was a lovely evening all around. Bill Cosby did the honors of introducing Sonny and I saw a clip on one of the sites where I recognized Jimmy Heath and Joe Lovano, among others, playing tribute. Sonny was asked why the evening was so special. “It’s very nice to be recognized here in our country, which is the birthplace of jazz,” he said. “It’s where we started jazz, and people love jazz all over the world. It’s a peaceful expression of the spirit, of love, of everything.” In the U.S. there will be a two-hour broadcast of the evening on Dec. 27 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

AP Video

Watching, And Appreciating, 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl

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I have my eye on a couple of 10-inch LPs today, not that I’m interested in buying them, just interested to see if they’ll sell: Fats Navarro Memorial Album, Blue Note 5004. This is an original pressing, but you have to love the seller’s listing of 161 Lexington Ave. as opposed to 767 Lexington Ave. That early script was tough to read, I guess. This one is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover and it has a start price of about $160. It closes early tomorrow and so far there are no bidders. From the same seller is Jay Jay Johnson, Blue Note 5028. This one is also in VG+ condition, is also closing early tomorrow, is also priced at about $160 and is also without any bidders. We’ll see. I think part of my interest in the 10-inchers is because this week I finally got my 10-inch LPs and my 78s out of storage. It was not a simple process and required deep negotiations with

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Eyeing Original Jazz Vinyl on The Atlantic Label

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I’m a big fan of the John Coltrane Atlantic period. Is there anyone in this audience who isn’t? I mean, Giant Steps, My Favorite Things, Coltrane Jazz — there are classics among them, for sure. Other than the clear black label on Giant Steps as an original mono, it’s never been all that clear to me what makes an Atlantic an original pressing. Deep grooves, heavy vinyl, yes, but the labels have different color combinations. And there’s also the bulls-eye, whether it is black or white. Anyway, I’m pleased that the Jazz Record Center is auctioning a couple of these records this week because they can contribute to the collective knowledge by identifying what is and is not an original pressing. For instance: John Coltrane, Coltrane Jazz, Atlantic 1354. This is described as an original stereo pressing with the green and blue labels. Tell the truth, did you know green and blue was the original label on this? The stereo, to my ears, is the preferred pressing on this one, starting with the great version of Little Old Lady. This original pressing has a start price of $50 and so far there are no takers, but there’s plenty of time left.

A Really Rare Record & an “Insanely Rare” Record

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Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’re watching now on eBay, starting with: Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows the Blues Volume 1, Dial 901. This is the original 1950 pressing and is, to our collective knowledge here, supposedly the first 12-inch LP ever. Based on the description, it sounds as if the record is in VG++ condition. I wouldn’t mind having a copy of this (which I don’t). This one closes in more than three days, is at a little bit more than $100 and has a reserve price, which has not yet been met. Hmmmmm.

From the same seller is Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This is another one I once owned and now regret selling. This one looks to be in VG condition, perhaps VG+, but probably VG. It is about $120 with a few days left to go.

If it’s “insanely rare” it must be the seller bobjdukic, who is back with a bunch of records, including:

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Quickie Quiz

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I’m listening to an old Prestige LP now and I’m reading the liner notes and it talks about the artist having been an inspector of blueprints at a Sperry gyroscope factory. I may have known this at one time, but at this stage I’ve probably forgotten more than I remember. Anyone want to hazard a guess as to who this is?

If It’s Blue Note, It Must Be Collectible

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Admittedly my headline is a bit of an exaggeration. As we’ve seen, the early traditional jazz Blue Notes such as the Sidney Bechet and James P. Johnson records, don’t seem to fetch collectible prices these days. But anything and everything Blue Note from the post-bop era of the mid-1950s to the early 1960s, seems to be in demand these days. Take this record: The Three Sounds, Bottoms Up!, Blue Note 4014. In seven or so years of doing the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve only listed three records from The Three Sounds and the highest price was around $200. Not anymore. This one, in M- condition for the record and the cover, sold for $305. I’ve never been a big fan of these records and I’ve had them pass through my hands on several occasions, but perhaps I should give them another listen? What’s the consensus (as if we could actually find a consensus here at Jazz Collector).

From the same seller came this Blue Note, well worth any price IMHO: Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, Blue Note 4146. This was also an original pressing and it was also in M- condition. The price was $549. I have a special place in my heart for this one: It was the first Dexter record I ever purchased and to this day it remains a favorite. It was a rare treat to hear Bud Powell in such fine form from this era and there’s an edge and an energy on this record that makes it special. It feels as if Dexter and Bud were highly inspired by one another and elevated their playing (if possible) in order to please and prod the other. Perhaps that wasn’t the case, but it’s fun to speculate and believe and aspire for the best, right?

 

Jazz Vinyl on eBay: Jackie-ing

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Ouch, this one hurts: Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This is an original pressing with the New York address on the labels, deep grooves, heavy vinyl. It is listed in M- condition and looks to be in beautiful condition. The seller characterizes it as an “archival” copy. There’s more than a day left on the auction and the bidding has topped $2,000. It hurts because I too had a mint copy of this record and I loved having it in my collection but was persuaded to sell my copy about 20 years ago for $400. Now, the $400 looked like a pretty good price back then, and I’m sure it was, but that $400 is long gone and the hole in my collection is still there. Looking at this great cover now I have to believe if I’d spent five more minutes just pondering the cover, not even thinking about the music, I’d have never sold the record. The same seller is offering Jackie McLean, 4, 5 and 6, Prestige 7048. This is also an original pressing and it is also listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. There are more than four days left on this auction and the bidding has topped $500, bit the record has yet to reach the seller’s reserve price.

 

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